Snow removing apparatus



Nov. 4, 1952 z 2,616,413

I SNOW REMOVING APPARATUS Filed May 2, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVEN TOR.

H. SCHMITZ SNOW REMOVING APPARATUS Nov. 4, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 2, 1950 INVENTOR. .6410? 62%;? BY

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SNOW REMOVING APPARATUS Harry Schmitz, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 2, 1950, Serial No. 159,450

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for removing snow from walk, path and roadway surfaces, and then disposing of the collected snow by melting the same to Water for subsequent discharge from the apparatus.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved apparatus for collecting and disposing of snow in the operation of clearing walk, path and roadway surfaces, and to this end to provide an apparatus adapted to be propelled over the surface to be cleared, said apparatus including a heated melting chamber having an endless series of snow receiving pans adapted to be circulated through the heated interior of the chamber, whereby to subject the conveyed snow to a melting temperature for reduction thereof to water; means being further provided for taking up the snow from the surface to be cleared and delivering the sam onto the circulating snow pans for movement through the melting chamber; and means being also provided for collecting the resulting water subject to discharge from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the path of movement of the snow pans, which are circulated within the melting chamber, dip trough means containing heated water into which the snow pans dip during their movement through the melting chamber, whereby to assist and speed up the snow melting process, and to assure complete discharge of snow from the snow pans before the latter return to the snow receiving point in their circulation to be there reloaded.

Other objects of the invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the snow removing apparatus according to this invention; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the same.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

In the illustrative embodiment of this inven-- tion as shown in the drawings, the same is of relatively small size suitable for hand propulsion and manual operation, and thus especially adapted for use in removing snow from side walks, park paths and similar footways. It will be understood, however, that the principles of this invention may be embodied in larger and power propelled apparatus suitable for road and street snow removal service.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference character H! indicates the body of the apparatus which is formed by a top wall H, bottom wall 12, end walls l3 and side walls M, thus providing the body with an enclosed interior constituting a melting chamber l5. Incorporated with the walls of the body I0 is a suitable heat insulating material It, whereby to prevent wasteful radiation of heat from the body when the apparatus is in use. The body H3 is supported by traction wheels 11, and, when hand propelled, is provided, in extension from its rear end wall l3 with handle bar means i8 for propulsive manipulation thereof.

Housed within the interior of the meltin chamber 15 of the body I0 is an endless series of traveling snow pans which, in use of the apparatus, receive the snow delivered thereto from the surface over which the apparatus is propelled. Said series of snow pans is supported by endless conveyor means, whereby said snow pans are caused to be circulated through the melting chamber I5 from and back to a point at which the same are loaded with collected snow.

In one illustrative arrangement thereof the conveyer means comprises a series of suitably disposed sets of supporting pulleys, wheels or the like which are mounted within the melting chamber l5 respectively adjacent to opposite sides thereof. To this end, longitudinally extending upper frame bars 18 and lower frame bars 20 are affixed to the side walls 14 of the body l0 within the melting chamber interior. Fixed upon the upper frame bars l9 are upstanding bearings 2|, respectively adjacent opposite ends of the melting chamber, and suitably spaced dependent bearings 22 disposed intermediate said end bearings 2|. Rotatably supported by the upstanding end bearings 2| are the shafts or axles 23 of upper end pulleys or guide wheels 24, and rotatably supported by the dependent intermediate bearings 22 are the shafts or axles 25 of upper intermediate pulleys or guide wheels 26. Fixed on the lower frame bars 20 are suitably spaced dependent bearings 2'7, and rotatably supported thereby are the shafts or axles 28 of lower pulleys or guide wheels 29. Over each set of pulleys or guide wheels thus provided runs an endless conveyer belt 30. Spaced along the conveyer belts, in bridging extension therebetween, and thus across the interior of the melting chamber l5, are a multiplicity of upwardly open snow pans 3|, the end walls 32 of which are respec water from melting snow carried by said snow pans can discharge and gravitate to the bottom of the melting chamber 15, to be there collected in a catch basin 34 which is disposed within the bottom interior of said melting chamber.

In preferred arrangement of courses along which the conveyer carried snow pans 3| are circulated through the melting chamber I5, a rising course a. runs parallel and adjacent to the front end wall of the body It over the. forward upper end pulley or guide wheel 24 and thence 1 5 in a horizontal course 19, which extends adjacent to the top wall of the body Ill-, to; and, over the rearward upper end pulley or guide wheel 24. From said rearward upper end pulley or guide wheel extends a descending course 0 which runs parallel and adjacent to the; rear end wall of the body In to a rearward lower pulley orguide. wheel 29. From said rearward lower pulley or guide wheel rising and descending, courses (1 pass between successive lower pulleys or guide wheels 25 29 and upper intermediate pulleys or guide wheels. 26 in return to the rising course a. By this arrangement, the conveyer carried snow. pans 3! travel a path of considerable, length from a loading point and back thereto, whereby 30 the snow loaded in said snow pans 3 l is subjected to the melting, influence, of the heated atmosphere within. the meltingchamber 15;. thus; providing ample time for the. carried snow to melt and discharge. therefrom as; water, so that the snow pans will be empty againbythe; time they make return approach to the loading point.

Means is provided for driving; the conveyercarried snow pans. In the illustrated small size apparatus. shown, this means is, adapted for manual operation, although it, will be obvious that; in large size apparatus, and; in fact apparatus. of any size, the; conveyer carried snow pans; maybe power driven by means of any suitable prime; mover. As illustrativelyshown; the

driving means. comprises a transverse drive shaft 3.5 which is suitably journaled in and between the side walls of the body L0. This. drive shaft 35, when desired to be manually operated,

isproyided on an exteriorly projecting; end-thereof with a crank handle 36 by which it can be turned by an attendant. Fixed on the drive shaft are pinions 3?. which mesh with gear wheels 3.8 respectively affixed. to the. shafts or axles of selected opposed pulleys or guide wheels,

preferably of the rearwardupper end pulleys or guide wheels 24, whereby the latter serve as the driving pulleys or guide wheels; of the conveyer system.

The means for collecting snow from a surf'ace to be cleared and delivering; the same tov and loading it, into the snow pans- 3l circulating withinthemelting chamber I.5.is arrangedlas fol, lows:

Provided in the front wall. 01Ev the body. In is a suitably located. snow admissionv openin 39, which is provided on its inner. side with an in,- wardly extending discharge chute. 40", the, free end of which is traversed by the snow. pans 3] as they move upwardly through their rising 79 course a.

Supported by external. bearings, for-extenr sion across the lower portion of the snow. admission opening 39, isthe. transverse driving; shaft 1y attached to said shaft 42, for downwardly inclined outward extension therefrom, are carrier arms 43. Journaled in and between the lower free end portions of said carrier arms 43 is a lower transverse shaft 44, upon the opposite ends of which are mounted rotatable wheels 45 by which the lower end of the snow pickup conveyer is supported. Said snow pick-up conveyer comprises an endless, transversely cleated apron 4.6 which runs over and between rollers, 41 and 48 respectively fixedon the respective shafts 42 and 44. Supported by the lower shaft 44, to incline downwardly from the receiving end of the snow pick-up-conveyer, is a scoop plate 49 which guides collected snow from the surface being cleared onto the snow pick-up conveyer. Means is provided for driving the snow pick-up conveyer from the snow pan conveyer system, and to this. end a shaft or axle 28 of a forward lower pulley or guide wheel 29 of the snow pan conveyer system is extended to project. exteriorly froma. side wall of the. body It. Fixed on the thus projecting end of said shaft or axle 2,8. is a drive sprocket 50 over which runs a transmission chain 54 to and over a driven sprocket 52 which is; fixed on and drives the upper or drive shaft 320f the snow pick-up conveyer.

To. avoid undue escape of heat from the. interior melting chamber I5 of the apparatus through the snow admission opening 39, the exterior side of the latter is. enclosed within the hood 53. The outer end of. this hood 53 is Suficiently open to admitpassage of the snow pickup, conveyer, but. is closed above the latter by a yieldable curtain. 54 which ispreferably made of flexible. material. adaptedto readily yield, to in.- wa-rd passagev of snow carried'by the pick-up conveyer, without; risk of dislodging the snow from the latter.

It will be, obvious that. snow. carried through the snow, admission opening 39 by the pick-up conveyer will bedischarged from the inner end of the latter into the chute 4ll'by which the thus delivered snow is discharged into thesuccessively passing snow pans, 3!, which, as thus loaded, are thereupon circulated through the. heated atmos: phere of the melting chamber l5.

Means is provided for heating the interior of the melting chamber l5. It will be obvious that any known. type of heat generating means may be. utilized for thisv purpose, such as. liquid or gaseous fuel burner means, electrical heating elements. or the like. For the purpose of iilustration, electrical heatingv elements have been shown, the same being located along the sides of the melting chamber l5, and to this end may be supported upon the frame bars l9 and 20'; In small size apparatus for local use, such as for residence side walk and path cleaning use, the heating elements Simay be supplied with current from house service through a flexible cable or oord'lnot shown) which can trail the apparatus as it is propelled: over the surface to be cleared. In large size apparatus, current may be supplied to the electrical heating elements by generator means carriedv by such apparatusa.

To assure complete melting; of the contentof thesnowpans and thorough emptyingzand-cleanmg; thereof beforethey return tothe loadingpoint for-reloading-, .it has been; found. of advantage to provideshallow dip troughs 56 through which,.in the course of their circulatory travel, through the melting chamber 15, the snow pans, may pass, These diptroughs contain water, and it ispref'erable t equip the. same with electrical heating elements 51 adapted to warm the water content thereof. Preferably a plurality of such dip troughs 56 are provided, one at the bottom of each descending and rising course of the snow pan conveyer system, whereby as a snow pan moves from a descending course to a rising course it will dip into and pass through the warm water content of a dip trough. The effect of this is not only to accelerate melting of the snow carried by the snow pan, but also to ultimately complete the melting and to wash the interior of the snow pan so as to assure it will be empty and thus ready for reloading with snow as it again passes by the loading point in its travel circuit through the melting chamber 15.

As will be understood, as the snow carried by the snow pans through the melting chamber melts, the resulting water formed therefrom will discharge and drip from the snow pans, and thus gravitate for collection in the catch basin 34 located within the bottom of the melting chamber I5. From time to time the water thus collected in the catch basin 34 can be discharged therefrom, and to provide means for attaining such discharge, the body ID is provided with a manipulatable external discharge valve or faucet 58 which communicates with and leads from said catch basin 34.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In snow removal apparatus, a snow melter structure comprising a hollow body adapted to be propelled over a surface from which snow is to be cleared, the interior or said body providing a melting chamber having means to supply heat to its atmosphere, said body having a snow admission opening at its forward end, a multiplicity of conveyer carried perforate snow pans arranged to travel a circuitous path within the melting chamber, the path of travel of said conveyer carried snow pans comprising a forward rising course disposed to move past the snow admission opening whereby the snow pans can be loaded with snow as they successively pass said opening, a rearwardly moving upper course, a rearward descending course, and successive forwardly moving rising and descending courses to complete the circuit, a water filled dip trough below the juncture of at least one descending and rising course into which the snow pans dip as they pass the same, a catch basin in the bottom of the melting chamber to receive water discharged from snow melted during circuit of the snow pans within the melting chamber, and manipulatable means for discharging collected water from the catch basin.

2. In snow removal apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the dip trough is provided with means for heating the water content thereof.

3. In snow removal apparatus, a snow melter structure comprising a hollow body adapted to be propelled over a surface from which snow is to be cleared, the interior of said body providing a melting chamber having means to supply heat to its atmosphere, said body having a snow admission opening at its forward end, endless conveyer means within the melting chamber comprising parallel runs respectively adjacent opposite sides of the latter, a multiplicity of perforate snow pans spaced along and pivotally suspended from the conveyer runs in transverse extension therebetween, the path of travel of the conveyer means and snow pans carried thereby comprising a forward rising course disposed to move past the snow admission opening whereby the snow pans can be loaded with snow as they successively pass said opening, a rearwardly moving upper course, a rearward descending course, and successive forwardly moving rising and descending courses to complete the circuit, means for driving the snow pan conveyer means, a catch basin in the bottom of the melting chamber to receive Water discharged from snow melted during the circuit of the snow pans within the melting chamber, and manipulatable means for discharging collected water from the catch basin.

4. In snow removal apparatus, a snow melter structure comprising a hollow body adapted to be propelled over a surface from which snow is to be cleared, the interior of said body providing a melting chamber having means to supply heat to its atmosphere, said body having a snow admission opening at its forward end, endless conveyer means within the melting chamber comprising parallel runs respectively adjacent opposite sides of the latter, a multiplicity of perforate snow pans spaced along and suspended from the conveyer runs in transverse extension therebetween, the path of travel of the conveyer means and snow pans carried thereby comprising a forward rising course disposed to move past the snow admission opening whereby the snow pans can be loaded with snow as they successively pass said opening, a rearwardly moving upper course, a rearward descending course, and successive forwardly moving rising and descending courses to complete the circuit, water filled dip troughs below the junctures of descending and rising courses into which the snow pans dip as they pass the same, means for driving the snow pan conveyer means, a catch basin in the bottom of the melting chamber to receive water discharged from snow melted during the circuit of the snow pans within the melting chamber, and manipulatable means for discharging collected water from the catch basin.

5. In snow removal apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the dip troughs are provided with means for heating the water content thereof.

HARRY SCHMITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,243,497 Erickson Oct. 16, 1917 1,462,527 Tully July 24, 1923 1,746,417 Chrul Feb. 11, 1930 1,841,245 Hagen Jan. 12, 1932 2,178,400 Marino Oct. 31, 1939 

